Bill,
drop the dough. You will always have it on and never know until you need it. You will actually feel awkward without it. If someone would of told me I would of ended up in the water on a flat calm day I wouldn't of believed it. Having it on was the difference in me kicking the boat to shore on my terms.

Thanks for relating your experiences DD and PK. It should serve as a flag for the rest of us. I just heard recently that more people perish from heat than from storms (tornados/hurricanes). That surprised me.

The only time I no longer wear a PFD is in my neighbors pool   A fancy one isn't needed, just one that will work for you and be comfortable enough to keep on. I second the "You will actually feel awkward without it" by Mastertangler. When I soloed last year, I was so used to wearing it I often forgot to take it off after I had gotten to camp, set it up, and started fishing from shore

I liked what Yellow Bird said about teenagers and young 20's will probably outgrow being foolish. I think most of us can remember several times when we were young, where good luck or the grace of God saved us from an early grave. To describe those deaths that do happen to "defective genes" is a rush to punitive  judgment, which might be fun for the mean spirited, but lacks the balance that years ought to have given.
As far as when or if to wear my PFD, that was decided several years ago. I swim alright but not well with my clothes on, my real talent seems to be sinking. I was fooling around in my canoe and the next thing I know we do some sort of flip flop floop and I'm looking up through several feet of ugly dirty water thinking "this is awful stuff to be drowned in" and then the PFD pops me to the surface like a cork. It was love at first coughing choking breath of fresh air. The only time it's off me is when used as a pillow at night.
Best Wishes, Rob